A facile one-pot green synthesis of gold nanoparticle-graphene-PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite for selective electrochemical detection of dopamine

A facile one-pot and green method was developed to prepare a nanocomposite of gold nanoparticle (AuNP), graphene (GP) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS). Graphene was first electro-exfoliated in a polystyrene sulfonate solution, followed by a one-step simultaneous in situ formation of gold nanoparticle and PEDOT. The as-synthesized aqueous dispersion of AuNP-GP-PEDOT:PSS was thereafter used to modify the glassy carbon electrode (GCE). For the first time, the quaternary composite between AuNP, GP, PEDOT and PSS was used for selective determination of dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) in the presence of ascorbic acid (AA). In comparison to a bare GCE, the nanocomposite electrode shows considerably higher electrocatalytic activities toward the oxidation of DA and UA due to a synergistic effect between AuNP, GP, PEDOT and PSS. Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), selective determination of DA and UA in the presence of AA could be achieved with a peak potential separation of 110 mV between DA and UA. The sensor exhibits wide linear responses for DA and UA in the ranges of 1 nM to 300 μM and 10 μM to 1 mM with detection limits (S/N = 3) of 100 pM and 10 μM, respectively. Furthermore, the proposed sensor was also successfully used to determine DA in a real pharmaceutical injection sample as well as DA and UA in human serum with satisfactory recovery results.

A facile one-pot green synthesis of gold nanoparticle-graphene-PEDOT:PSS nanocomposite was successfully demonstrated.     

How Program Users Enhance Fidelity: Implementing the WITS Programs in Rural Canadian Elementary Schools

Research on the processes that enhance implementation fidelity is needed to increase understanding of ways to advance the uptake and sustainability of evidence-based programs (Berkel et al. in Prevention Science, 12, 23–33, 2011; Berkel et al. 2017). We propose and test a theoretical model of interrelations among implementation fidelity (i.e., adherence to program components), and rarely investigated activities of program users that may enhance fidelity; namely integration of program strategies into daily activities and children’s use of program strategies (CUoPS). These were assessed across the initial 2 years of the implementation of the WITS peer victimization prevention programs in 16 Canadian rural schools. WITS stands for Walk away, Ignore, Talk it out, and Seek help. All schools were implementing the program. We examined the interrelations among these implementation indicators and their effects on child outcomes targeted by the WITS Programs (i.e., social responsibility, prosocial leadership, peer victimization, emotional symptoms, and aggression). Four implementation assessments were collected from children (n?=?1326), their parents, and teachers in the fall and spring of two academic years. The within-time correlations among fidelity, integration, and CUoPS were significant at each assessment. Cross-lagged models showed fidelity and integration, and CUoPS and integration were reciprocally related during each academic year. CUoPS predicted higher subsequent levels of fidelity during and across academic years. Suggestions are given for training and coaching to enhance teachers’ integration of program strategies into daily life and for creating opportunities for school staff to observe children using program strategies in order to enhance implementation fidelity.     

Synthesis of GTMAC modified chitin-PAA gel and evaluation of its biological properties

The dressing prepared from GTMAC modified chitin-PAA was introduced with the aim of facilitating wound healing, particularly those effectively absorbing exudates, maintaining a moist wound environment and controlling bacterial proliferation. Chitin was chemically modified with acrylic acid to encourage a moist wound healing environment. The highly water-absorbable resulting product (chitin-PAA) was further reacted with glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride (GTMAC) to impart antibacterial activities. The final product, chitin-PAA-GTMAC was characterized by the techniques of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), solid state (15) N NMR, and elemental analysis. Their cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities against S. epidermidis and E. coli were evaluated which found increasing effects in those properties with increasing degree substitution of GTMAC. All materials also showed good blood-clotting ability. The collagen gel contraction assay was used to analyze the behavior of fibroblasts after contact with the gels. The extent of the gel contraction as well as the examination of the secreted interleukin-8 (IL-8) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were investigated. The results showed that chitin-PAA modified with GTMAC could stimulate the production of IL-8, but TGF-β1. Fibroblasts presented normal spreading and formation of cellular processes in the collagen gels with all of the modifications. Furthermore, all modified gels except for the highest GTMAC content gel [chitin-PAA-GTMAC (1:20)] were found a greater extent in gel contraction than the unmodified chitin-PAA. It suggested the promoting effect of GTMAC on cell proliferation if the GTMAC content in the gel was not too high, that is, the mole ratio of glucosamine to GTMAC of the gel should not greater than 1:10.     

Protein-Bound Uremic Toxins Lowering Effect of Sevelamer in Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients with Hyperphosphatemia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

P-cresyl sulfate and indoxyl sulfate are strongly associated with cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in chronic kidney disease (CKD). This randomized controlled trial was conducted to compare the effects between sevelamer and calcium carbonate on protein-bound uremic toxins in pre-dialysis CKD patients with hyperphosphatemia. Forty pre-dialysis CKD patients with persistent hyperphosphatemia were randomly assigned to receive either 2400 mg of sevelamer daily or 1500 mg of calcium carbonate daily for 24 weeks. A significant decrease of total serum p-cresyl sulfate was observed in sevelamer therapy compared to calcium carbonate therapy (mean difference between two groups −5.61 mg/L; 95% CI −11.01 to −0.27 mg/L; p = 0.04). There was no significant difference in serum indoxyl sulfate levels (p = 0.36). Sevelamer had effects in terms of lowering fibroblast growth factor 23 (p = 0.01) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p = 0.04). Sevelamer showed benefits in terms of retarding CKD progression. Changes in vascular stiffness were not found in this study.     

Multicomponent programs for reducing peer victimization in early elementary school: a longitudinal evaluation of the WITS Primary Program

Past research demonstrates the promise of multicomponent programs in reducing peer victimization and bullying in older elementary and middle school children, however little research focuses on young children. The current study examines the effectiveness of the WITS Primary program on trajectories of victimization and social responsibility in children in Grades 1 to 3 (n=830). A quasi‐experimental design is used to compare schools with well‐established programs to nonprogram control schools, using three waves of data collected over 18 months. Children in the WITS program (n=422) showed more rapid declines in peer victimization over time compared with children in control schools (n=418). In addition, teachers of children in program schools reported higher average levels of social responsibility at each time point, compared with control schools. This study adds to support for the multicomponent program in reducing peer victimization among young children. Teachers' important roles in monitoring program implementation are discussed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Efficacy of separated system continuous venovenous hemofiltration in critical acute kidney injury

Integrated system continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH), the most popularly utilized mode for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), needs a sophisticated and expensive machine that is available only in limited critical care units. Separated system CVVH, which can be simply set up, might be an effectively alternative to CRRT. A one-year prospective observational study regarding the efficacy of separated system CVVH was conducted with 192 critically ill patients with acute kidney injury. All patients underwent separated system CVVH with the pre-dilution mode and a mean CVVH dose of 34.9±2.7mL/kg/h. The APACHEII score was 23.2±8.4 and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was 12.0±4.3. No complications, including air-embolism or circuit clotting, were observed and the survival rate was 32.3%. Separated system CVVH is simple, safe, and efficient and could provide cheaper treatments than the integrated system. It could thus be an effective, alternative treatment for critical acute kidney injury patients when the integrated mode is unavailable.     

Contemporary outcomes and mortality risks of Ebstein anomaly: A single‐center experience in Thailand

Background: The increasing number of patients with Ebstein anomaly (EA) surviving into adulthood implies improvements in the treatments for the complex lesion. We revisited the clinical outcomes of patients with EA to demonstrate their “real world” survival.
Objectives: To identify the survival and predictors of mortality in patients with EA who underwent medical or surgical management in the present era.
Methods: All patients who had EA with atrioventricular concordance between 1994 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline characteristics, initial echocardio‐ graphic findings, treatments, and outcomes were explored. The survival analysis was performed at the end of 2017. A multivariate analysis was used to assess mortality risks.
Results: A total of 153 patients (25.4 ± 20.4 years, 60% female) were analyzed. Of these, 89 patients had been diagnosed with EA in childhood. During the follow‐up [median time of 5.2 years (3 days‐23.5 years)], 32 patients (20.9%) died due to major cardiac adverse events. The overall survival at 1, 5, and 10 years were 89%, 82.2%, and 79%, respectively. Of the total 153 patients, 64 patients underwent at least one surgical intervention [median age of 17 years (1 day‐64.4 years)]. The survival at 1, 5, and 10 years were 87.5%, 82.4%, and 77.7%, respectively, in patients with EA sur‐ gery. This survival is comparable to the survival of 89 nonoperated patients with EA: 89.9%, 87.5%, and 81.8%, at 1, 5, and 10 years, respectively. The significant predic‐ tors of mortality were: age at diagnosis ≤2 years, tricuspid valve (TV) z‐score >3.80, TV displacement >19.5 mm/m2, presence of severe tricuspid regurgitation, and ab‐ sence of forward flow across the pulmonic valve at the initial diagnosis.
Conclusion: Patients with EA had a moderately good survival in this era. In this paper, we report five simple predictors of death in this patient population.